In interviews with a half-dozen corrections officers, the ACLU heard stories of squalor, cover-up, violence and intimidation at the jails. The civil rights group has forwarded its findings to federal investigators.

"We made the decision that the United States Department of Justice
should be notified about the allegations contained in our report," said
Brenda Jones, Executive Director for the ACLU-EM in a statement. "Correctional
officers have described a pattern of beatings, sexual misconduct, and
other crimes which need to be verified or refuted. We hope the document
will be the catalyst for further investigation."

In its report, ACLU alleges that Corrections Commissioner Eugene Stubblefield and acting deputy Superintendent Reginald Moore condoned and even encouraged such behavior at the jails.